US tourists becomes first Cultural Passport Tourism Challenge winner

Dominique de Michael, an American tourist, has become the first person to complete the Cultural Passport Tourism Challenge after visiting all the 21 tourist sites in just three days. Mr De Michael discovered the Cultural Tourism Passport during his tour visit to Bahrain National Museum. He then toke up the challenge and decided to visit all the sites proposed in the passport. The ‘Cultural Tourism Passport’ was launched by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities on World Tourism Day. The Passport includes a directory of 21 cultural sites. Those who take up the challenge will have to go to all the places listed in the passport and get it stamped from each site before returning the passport to the National Museum. The on going challenge will run till the end of November and the winners will be announced on Bahrain’s National Day. Mr De Michael started his journey from the Bahrain National Museum and finished his last stamp from the Bu Maher Fort. "Well, I appointed a special taxi to the task; I could have driven by myself, but I couldn't afford to make a mistake on the road," he said explaining his modus operandi. On his arrival to hand in his passport to the Bahrain National Museum, he met Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the director of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. Shaikha Mai congratulated him on visiting all the site and spoke to him about his tour of the cultural and archaeological sites. "I liked the Tree of Life very much,” said Mr De Michael. “I come from a family that wasn't so well off and grew up in harsh conditions. But I succeeded in making my life better. So when I stood in front of the tree that grows in the desert amidst harsh environmental and weather conditions, I felt like I was standing in front of myself… I loved her so much." "I love the Middle East. I have a great passion for this culture which seems to me like it’s coated in several layers. My visit has been a pleasure in Bahrain and I think I will come back here soon."